Whatcom kindergarten teacher allegedly touches 2 young girls inappropriately on school trip
A man still listed as a kindergarten teacher at Lummi Nation School is suspected of inappropriately touching 6- and 7-year-old girls while on a school-sponsored summer trip to the Birch Bay Water Slides. One of the girls reportedly is developmentally delayed and has a limited vocabulary.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office booked Robert Oliver Ziesing, 43, into Whatcom County Jail Friday, Sept. 23, on suspicion of two counts of first-degree child molestation, and jail records show Ziesing was released later Friday on $75,000 bail.
On Aug. 2, the Lummi Nation School’s kindergarten through third-grade summer school program visited the Birch Bay Water Slides, according to Whatcom County Superior Court documents. Several teachers, including Ziesing, and paraeducators attended the event and chaperoned the children.
One of the teachers reported seeing Ziesing inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl he was supervising while at the water park, documents state. The teacher also reported seeing Ziesing inappropriately touch a 6-year-old, according to documents.
The teacher reported being “floored” by Ziesing’s actions and reported them to her supervisor, documents stated, adding that deputies viewed grainy security video footage that supported what the teacher reported.
Two bus drivers also reported seeing Ziesing acting inappropriately or inappropriately touch the two children during the outing, according to documents, adding that one called his actions “eerie to watch.” A paraeducator and another teacher also reported seeing Ziesing acting inappropriately with the two girls.
Ziesing was interviewed by deputies Sept. 16 at his home and denied touching either girl inappropriately, documents state.
On Friday, Ziesing, who was with his attorney, turned himself in to be booked into the Whatcom County Jail.
According to the Lummi Nation School’s staff directory, Ziesing still is listed as a kindergarten teacher. The Bellingham Herald has asked the school if he is still actively teaching.
